**7. Possible field effects on humans**

Among the three modes of action of the field effects discussed above, the second mode (i.e., particulate matter) is associated with immunological responses that may be prominently problematic for humans because humans have very effective (and, thus, very sensitive) immunological systems, some of which insects do not have. A small amount of radioactive or nonradioactive aerosol from a nuclear reactor can potentially cause large and fatal physiological effects in some human individuals via immunological sensitization. However, immunological responses vary among individuals, and it is known that immunological sensitivity to chemicals (i.e., allergens) greatly varies among human individuals. However, once sensitized, humans can detect a remarkably small number of molecules and manifest allergic symptoms. It is possible that radioactivity denatures proteins, which makes naturally occurring proteins immunogenic. The protein-denaturing effect of ionizing radiation as well as its association with immunogenicity may be one of the important topics that should be experimentally tested. As a whole, these effects can collectively be called *the immunological effects*.

The consequences of allergic reactions are complex, but one example of a type of reaction is kidney failure, which can include *nephrotic syndrome*; I have reported a case in which nephrotic syndrome was likely induced by the immunological field effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident [86]. Indeed, a general relationship between immunological sensitization and nephrotic syndrome has been demonstrated [87–92]. This relationship has not been rigorously tested; however, this is not surprising because nephrotic syndrome is a collection of diseases that have various etiologies.

Regarding the first mode of the field effect discussed above, the synergistic effects are potentially numerous in human society and in human living environments. One of the potential stressors is cedar pollen, which causes Japan-wide allergic reactions in the spring of each year, including 2011 immediately before and after the Fukushima nuclear accident. It is possible that the aerosol from the Fukushima reactors attached to cedar pollen to worsen *pollen allergy* (i.e., *hay fever*). Other potential stressors for humans may include other air pollutants, food additives, agrochemicals, and work stress. Stress resistance varies among individual humans, and some people that were not very stress resistant may have become sick after the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Regarding the third mode of the field effects discussed above, changes in plant chemicals may affect human health. Additionally, the nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables may have declined. However, different from the pale grass blue butterfly, humans are not monophagous. Moreover, vitamin supplementation is now popular in many countries including Japan. As such, this type of field effect may not manifest in humans; however, this mode may cause serious adverse impacts in the pale grass blue butterfly.
